Food sandwich package and method of making same

ABSTRACT

A WRAPPED SANDWICH FORMS A PACKAGE AND CONTAINS AN L-SHAPED LABEL BETWEEN THE SANDWICH AND THE WRAPPER SO THAT ONE PART OF SUCH LABEL IS VISIBLE ON THE FACE OF THE PACKAGE BUT ANOTHER PART OF THE LABEL IS VISIBLE AT AN EDGE OF THE PACKAGE. THE LABEL MAY BE IMPRINTED AS FOR EXAMPLE BY IMPRINTING THE EDGE EXPOSED PARTS WITH A DESCRIPTION OF THE CONTENTS OF THE SANDWICH AND THUS INDICATE THE CONTENTS IWTH VISIBILITY OF SUCH IMPRINTING BEING ASSURED EVEN AT AN EDGE OF THE PACKAGE WHEN THE PACKAGES ARE STACKED WITH ONLY THEIR EDGES SHOWING.

March 30, 1971 J. A. POLSELLI 3,573,068

FOOD SANDWICH PACKAGE AND METHOD OF MAKING SAME Filed Sept. 22, 1969 FIG.5

INVENTOR JOSEPH A. POLSELLI %7 W f gi ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,573,068 FOOD SANDWICH PACKAGE AND METHOD OF MAKING SAME Joseph A. Polselli, 3578 E. Milwaukee, Detroit, Mich. 48211 Filed Sept. 22, 1969, Ser. No. 859,859

Int. Cl. B65b US. Cl. 99-171 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE BACKGROUND Sandwich packers have been wrapping sandwiches with imprinted labels between the sandwich and the wrapper but positioned generally on a face of the sandwich. The Wrapped sandwiches are often stacked in trays with only the edges of the sandwiches visible. The labels on the faces of the sandwiches thus do not become visible on the edges of the sandwiches when they are so stacked.

OB JECTS It is an object of the present invention to provide a labeling of a form that can easily be included within the wrapped package and yet will be exposed at edges of the sandwiches when the sandwiches are stacked with edges only showing.

A further obect is providing a label which stiffens and smoothens the wrapper with the wrapper overlying the label to facilitate reading of the label through the wrapper.

A further obect is to provide a labeling wherein the label protects a part of the line of juncture of a face and an edge of the wrapped sandwich and helps define straight line edges to the sandwiches or packages to improve neatness of appearance.

Further objects of the invention will best be understood upon reference to the appended drawings.

In these drawings:

FIG. 1 shows a conventional arrangement of wrapped sandwiches stacked in a tray but with labels of the present invention being included to indicate contents of the sandwiches, with the contents labels visible on the exposed edges of the sandwiches, the only parts of the packages which are exposed to view when so stacked.

FIG. 2 is a view showing a sandwich in the process of being wrapped with the label hereof in place.

FIG. 3 shows the completed package.

FIG. 4 is an underside view of FIG. 3 of the complete package.

FIG. 5 shows a label per se.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION FIG. 1 shows a tray containing a supply of wrapped sandwich packages 12 whose edges only are exposed. Visible at such exposed edges are parts 14 (FIG. 5) of labels 16, these being folded on lines 17 and thus having other parts 18. Imprinting on parts 14 is visible when the sandwiches are stacked as shown in FIG. 1. If such imprinting describes the contents of the sandwiches then it become an easy matter to read the contents of the sandwiches even when they are stacked as shown in FIG. 1.

The package includes not only the label 16 but also a transparent wrapper 26 and a sandwich 28, these being conventional.

The completed package thus includes a sandwich 28 having two flat faces 30, FIG. 2 and 32, FIG. 4, and a peripheral edge 34. Where the sandwich is rectangular or square as is common the four edge portions are each rectangular panels but together they provide a peripheral edge.

The wrapper 26 when folded properly around the sandwich and label wraps and seals the sandwich and holds the label in place with the label inside the wrapper and its face portion 18 lying against a flat face of the sandwich near its edge, and the edge portion 14 of the label lying against the edge 34 of the sandwich near its face 32. Thus the imprinting on the label is visible through the wrapper on both the face of the package and the edge of the package.

The label 16 is of heavy paper stock or tag board stock, considerably heavier and more rigid than the pliofilm commonly used for the wrapper 26. Thus the label stiffens and smoothens the wrapper where the wrapper overlies the label to facilitate reading of the label through the wrapper. This is particularly important and useful where the part of the label to be read is at an edge of the package rather than on a flat face of the package where the problem is not particularly serious.

The label also, being of heavy stock, protects a part of the line of juncture of the face and edge of the wrapped sandwich to prevent tearing of the wrapper at the very point where it is most important the wrapper be untorn, namely, where the customer is reading the contents of the sandwich and is focusing upon the label rather than upon the sandwich as a whole. It is important that the wrapper be untorn everywhere but particularly important that the wrapper be smooth, visible, neat, and untorn in the area of the label itself and particularly the edge part 14 of such label.

Where the sandwich is conventionally square, it will have generally rectangular and flat faces and generally rectangular edge faces, all bounded by straight lines. Since the fold 17 of the label separating parts 14 and 18 is a straight line, the label itself, being of heavy stock, helps define straight line edges to the package, improving the neatness of the package as a whole.

THE METHOD To form the wrapped sandwich package, we proceed as follows First, a panel 26 of thin transparent wrapping material is laid down On a table or bed.

Then the imprinted label of FIG. 5 is laid down on the panel with part 18 against the panel and part 14 projecting upwardly from the panel.

Then a sandwich 28 is laid down on the label in proper position as shown with the edge of the sandwich within the fold 17 of the label.

The foregoing two steps may be reversed and it is perfectly feasible to lay the sandwich down on the panel first and slip the label into proper place under the sandwich.

Finally, the wrapper has its edge parts pulled up and over the sandwich in conventional wrapping practice as performed by wrapping machines with the label inside the package between the sandwich and the wrapper and with both parts of the label exposed and visible through the wrapper, one part 18 being exposed and visible on the face of the package and one part 14 being exposed and visible on the edge of the package.

No other steps are necessary in the forming of the package and this is a convenience and time saving feature of the package herein shown and the method herein described.

Now having described the package and method of this invention, reference should be had to the claims which follow.

I claim:

1. A wrapped sandwich package comprising, in combination, a sandwich having two fiat faces and a peripheral edge;

a transparent wrapper wrapping and sealing said sandwich; and

i a label of considerable length comprising a strip folded into an L cross-section to provide imprintable face and edge portions;

with the label being inside the Wrapper and its face portion lying against a face of the sandwich near the edge of the sandwich, and its edge portion lying against the edge of the sandwich near its face;

whereby the imprinting on the label is visible through the wrapperon both a face and an edge of the package;

with the label being of stock considerably heavier and more rigid than the wrapper, whereby the label stiffens and smoothens the wrapper at the face and edge areas overlying the label to facilitate reading of the label through the wrapper, and whereby the label also protects a part of the line of juncture of a face and the edge of the wrapped sandwich.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein the sandwich and package have generally fiat faces and edge portions; and the label is folded on a straight line so as to help define edge portions of the package.

3. A method for forming a wrapped sandwich packaging comprising:

(a) laying a panel of thin transparent wrapping material down on a table or bed;

(b) laying down on said panel an imprinted label in the form of a strip of stock heavier than the panel and folded into an L cross-section, with a face portion of the label lying on the panel and an edge portion of the label projecting vertically up from the panel;

(c) laying a sandwich down on said panel and label with a part of the sandwich overlying the face portion of the label and an edge of the sandwich being against the upwardly projecting part of the label;

(d) pulling edge parts of the label up and over the sandwich to wrap it, with the label inside the package and between the sandwich and the wrapper and with both parts exposed and visible through the wrapper, one on a face, and one on an edge, of the package.

4. A method according to claim 3, wherein steps (b) and (c) are performed in the order stated in claim 3.

5. ,A method generally according to claim 3, but wherein the sandwich is laid down on the panel, and thereafter the label is tucked in between the sandwich and panel, after which step (d) is performed.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,433,663 12/1947 Hanson 20646 2,692,723 10/1954 Elsrnan 22987 2,893,876 7/1959 Murphy 22987 3,087,605 4/1963 Kester 20645.33

ROBERT W. MICHELL, Primary Examiner W. J. CONTRERAS, Assistant Examiner US. Cl. X.R. -2 

